Fishing float



Patented Dec. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l Claim.

fishing float which can be `controlled by the fisher:

man for accurate placement in a `desired location by manipulation of the shing line.

A further object of this invention is to provide 1 a fishing oat which can be controlled by manipulation of the fishing line so as to be placed in locations inaccessible by casting.

Further `objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claim andfrom the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the appearance of the top of the float of this invention.

Figure 2 is a View of the float of Figure 1 in front elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the appearance of the bottom of the float of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a par-tial plan view similar to Figure 3, but disclosing a modification of a shing float according to this invention.

Referring to the drawing, I designates the body portion of a shing float in accordance with this invention. Body portion I is generally trapezoidal in plan as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to provide the tapered end edges 2. End edges 2 are downwardly tapered as shown in Figure 2, so that the float is also trapezoidal in elevation, but it may have any desired geometrical shape in elevation, such as rectangular, semi-circular, elliptical or any other shape. Body portion I is composed of light material such as wood.

A longitudinal groove 3 is provided in the bottom edge portion of the float body I, and this groove is filled with lead .to maintain the iioat upright in the water. Any other suitable weighting material may be employed at the bottom edge portion of body I if desired.

A pair of longitudinal guide members 4 and 5 are provided at one of the side faces 5 of body portion I. These guide members in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, consist of U-shaped pieces of stiff wire, such as piano wire, driven into .body member I and secured thereto by peening over or clenching the end portions 'I of the legs of the U at the opposite face 8 of body portion I. The straight por-tions 9 :and I0 of U-shaped members 4 and 5 extend longitudinally `of body portion I for .a substantial length and are parallel to face 6. When the float is in the water, guide portions 9 and I0 are maintained in a horizontal position.

Slida'bly mounted on guide portion 9 isa swivel member I I, one eye of which encircles guide portion 9 and the other eye of which is :connected to the line I2 carrying the fishing hook. Slidably mounted on guide portion III is a swivel member I3, one eye of which encircles guide portion I0 and the other eye of which is connected to the line I4 which is connected to the flshermans reel.

To place the hook in a desired location, line I4 is pulled first in one direction, then in the opposite direction, swivel members I3 and I I alternately reversing their positions on body portion I as line I4 is reversed in direction. The pull on line I4 is transferred to body member I resulting in a component of motion transverse to the longitudinal .axis of body member I as it moves through the water by virtue of the trapezoidal horizontal sectional shape of said body member. A zig-zag path of movement may be imparted to the float, controlled by the alternately directed pulls on line I4, whereby the oat and hook may be moved in a controlled manner to a desired location, where a light strike has been previously experienced or which is inaccessible to direct casting.

As shown in Figure 3, nails I5 are driven through body member I to secure the mass of lead in groove 3.

The guide member 4 connected through swivel member I3 to line I4 may be made adjustable with respect to body member I by threading the leg portions I6 thereof, as shown in Figure 4, and providing nuts I1 threadedly engaging leg portions I6 at opposite faces of body member I. In this embodiment, guide member 4 is preferably made of heavier stock so that the threads may be formed on the leg portions -thereof. The adjustable feature is particularly useful in trolling, where it may be desired to employ a separate iioat on each of different lines, each float adjusted so as to be kept out of the boats Wake and to keep the respective lines separated to avoid entanglement.

While specific embodiments of structures in accordance with this invention have been 4disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that numerous modifications within the spirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention `other than as dene'd by the scope `of the yappended claim.

What is -claimed is:

A fishing float comprising .a body member of buoyant material, said body member having a trapezoidal horizontal :cross section .and downwardly and forwardly converging opposite sides of the body, a swivel member sldably engaging with one end the .bight portonof the lower U- shaped member and engaging with the other end a fishing line, a second swivel slidably engaging with one end the bight portion of the upper U- shaped member and engaging With the other end a reel line. Y LEO MILLER HENRICKS. 

